PFW: Dior’s Jaunt in the Victorian South of France

Raf Simons imagined the South of France when creating the S/S16 RTW collection for Christian Dior. “I feel like doing something calm, calm and beautiful and sensitive and romantic—away from the overdone. I didn’t want to embellish…rainbows and the simple things. And there’s a bit of Victoriana: something of that film Picnic at Hanging Rock. With a slight sexual undertone of darkness.”

The result was a collection filled with scallop-edged handkerchief cotton shorts, crop tops and dresses with dark jackets that with just a touch of an hourglass figure. These and several oversize silhouettes and balloon sleeves each add a slightly androgynous feel to the collection. The oversized and scalloped plum and powder blue knit sweaters were both fascinating and unflattering. With so much restraint in the collection, I must admit I was left disappointed and hoping for more. There’s always next season!